Mop holder



Jan 15, 1957 P. P. sHEPPERD 2,777,143

MOP HOLDER Filed March 22, 1954 MOP HLDER Peter P. Shepperd, East Moline, lil. Application March l22, 1954, Serial No. 417,611

9 Claims. (Cl. l5-147) This invention relates to a mop holder and more particularly to that type of mop holder having a support in the form of a detachable loop from which the mop may be removed from time to time for replacement, for laundering, etc.

Known holders of the character generally referred to have certain disadvantages, foremost of which are high initial cost, failure of the loop-releasing means and other operating characteristics that are in general annoying to the user. According to the present invention, one of .the greatest nuisances is eliminated by using for the supporting loop a multi-stranded metal cable, which cable has the desired lexibility, long life and because of its closely wound structure Idoes not pinch or otherwise entangle itself with the fabric of the mop carried thereby. Another feature of the invention is an improved carrier design having tubular sockets for receiving cylindrical plugs xed to the respective ends of the cable. A further object of the invention resides in a low-cost design made possible by symmetrical construction at each side of the carrier body so that the parts may be readily manufactured by mass-production methods. It is a primary b ject of the invention to utilize an improved form of latch plate symmetrically engageable with the cable-carried plugs but having one side thereof formed to release only one plug, whereby at least one end of the cable remains attached to the carrier, thus preventing loss of the cable and also facilitating replacement and removal of the mop. The carrier is economically constructed of metal tubing and the junction of the side members with the central member of the Y-shaped carrier is necked down to afford opposite flattened sides in a socket for receiving a mop stick having a laterally reduced or flattened end portion.

The foregoing and other important objects and desirable features inherent in and encompassed by the inven-r tion will become apparent as a preferred form of the invention is described in detail in the following specification, having reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings in which the several iigures are described as follows:

Figure l is a plan view of the assembly.

Figure 2 is an end view, partly in section as seen along the line 2 2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a side View, with the major portion of the loop omitted.

Figure 4 is a section as seen along the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a section as seen along the line 5-5 of Figure l.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the carrier body by itself.

ln its complete assembled form, the improved mop structure comprises a mop handle H, a carrier body C and a mop-supporting loop L; although, the elements themselves or subcombinations thereof can obviously be provided as separate components, as for replacement and repair.

The carrier is of bifurcated or Y-shaped construction, having a central leg or member l@ in the for-m of an "ice elongated cylindrical tube provided with opposite terminal end portions 12 and 14, the tube being necked down intermediate its ends as at 16 to provide opposite ilattened intermediate interior sides or side Wall portions 1S at a junction with the furcations of the Y, which here take the form of a pair of opposite, :symmetrically arranged cylindrical tubular legs lor side members 20. If it is assumed that the structure is horizontal when viewed in elevation as in Figure 3 (which assumption is made only for convenience and not as defining the limits of the invention), it will be seen that the terminal ends 12 and 14 are upright or transverse and that the end portion 14 is cylindrical at its extremity to afford a socket for receiving the proximate end of the mop handle H. This end of the handle has a terminal end portion 22 flattened at opposite sides as at 24 and an adjacent contiguous cylindrical portion 26, these portions respectively tightly fitting the necked-down portion 16 and the socket end 14 of the carrier C. By this means the cooperating Jflats at 18 and 24 tix the handle against rotation relative to the carrier and only one securing means, as a rivet 28, is required to prevent axial separation of the handle from the carrier. The front terminal end 22 of the handle H stops short of the front terminal end 12 of the central member lll of the carrier C and provides for a pocket or recess 20 for purposes to presently appear. j

The ends of the members 2li proximate to the neckeddown portion 16 of the central member l0 are appropriately shaped to accommodate the junction of the members and the three parts are rigidly joined as by brazing, soldering, etc. as at 30 and 32. Each leg or side member 2t? projects from thescentral leg or member l0 preferably at an acute angle and has a terminal end 34 projecting somewhat beyond the terminal end 12 of the side member, the ends 34 being in substantial transverse alinement, since the structure is symmetrical at opposite sides. Each side member has an upright slot 36 in that side wall thereof that faces or lies proximate to the central lmember and these slots are substantially transversely alined with each other and with the terminal end 12 of the central member.

A latch plate 38 is mounted at the end of the carrier, lying upright and transversely across and bearing flatwise against the end 12 of the central member 1G. This plate has a pair of oppositely extending transverse wings 40, each wing being bent or angled so as to lie normal to the axis of the associated side member 2tlg and each wing is so constructed as to loosely t the associated slot 36 and to project into the interior of the associated side member. The mounting of the latch plate for vertical movement between locking and releasing positions is accomplished by means of an upright pin 42 slidably carried in the terminal end portion 12 lof the central member 10 by means of a pair of vertically alined apertures 44 formed respectively in upper and lower wall portions 45 and 47 of that member (Figure 6). The plate has a central portion in the form of a loop 46 that projects into the pocket 29 afforded at the terminal end of the central member 16 by the rearward offsetting tof the end 22 of the handle H, as referred to above. This plate loop embraces the pin in that portion of the pin that lies between the upper and lower wall portions 45 and 47 of the end of the central member it) and is soldered, bnazed, etc. to the pin as at 48; although, any `other suitable means of atxation could be used. The height of the loop 46 is enough less than the vertical :dimension across the end of the member 10 and between the walls 45 land 47 so that the top and bottom of the loop serve as stops respectively engageable with the upper and lower walls for establishing limits on vertical movement of the plate. In short, these stops determine Vthe two positions of the plate.

Thev upper end 4of the pin is headed for convenience of the user and further to conine between the head and the top of the member a biasing means in. the form of a light coiled compression spring 50. The bottom of the plate at the central portion thereof is notched at 52 to achievel increase in the downward travel of the plate (see doudmh lines in Figure 5), which is consistent with retaining a sutiicient area of the wings 46 for loop-re taining purposes as will presently appear.

As described above, thc wings 40 of the latch plate 33 run in the slots 36 of the side members 2t: and, in addition to the bearing surface atiorded by the slidable mounting of the pin d2, the plate, has a bearing surface against the front face or terminal end of the member 10. Hence, the plate is freely slidable vertically but is adequately guided against coclting, displacement, etc., thus eliminating what has heretofore been considered .a nuisance in prior structures. Moreover, the wings project respectively into the interiors of the tubular side members 2Q and are therefore engageable with attachment elements in the form of solid metal cylindrical plugs 54 and 54@ carried respectively by opposite ends of the mop-supporting loop L, the ends 34 of the side members 2t] aliording socketed attachment portions on the carrier C for the purpose of receiving and releasing at least one plug 54a. (As will hereinafter appear, the plugs may be identical but, because preferably only one is released by depression of the plate 38, that one is identified as 54a.)

Each plug slidably tits the respective member 241i via the terminal open end 34 of the member and has an annular groeve 56 therein alineable, in its retained position, with the respective slot 36 and therefore receives the associated latch plate wing 49. For all practical purposes the groove could be milled in but one side of the plug but the groove as an annulus eliminates the necessity for rotating the plug in the member 2d until proper radial alinement is secured.

From the description thus far, it will be clear that the plugs are respectively received in the side members and are retained therein by the latch plate wings as long as the latch plate 38 is in its locking position as yieldably maintained by the spring 50. The latch plate is designed so that upon downward movement or depression thereof via the headed end of the pin 42 only the plug 54n is released. This is desirable for reasons already outlined. The other plug is installed before as sembly `of the plate 38 and pin 42.

The release of only the plug 54a is accomplished by relieving one wing 40 at 58, which may be achieved by cutting oft one corner, and the wing thus relieved is able to clear both the grooves 56 in the plug 54@ andthe inside diameter of the member 20 when the plate is depressed (dot-dash lines, Figure 5). Since the other wing is not so relieved, it does not clear the groove of its plug 54; therefore, that plug remains attached. Since the construction at 20-54 is cylindrical, the loop L, when released at one side and retained at the other, is free to swivel, thus eliminating annoying resistance of the loop to twisting during the changing of mops. As long as one end of the loop is still attached to the carrier C via the retained plug 54, there is no danger of losing the loop and the loop is easy to handle in replacing a clean, new or otherwise different mop when desired.

The loop L is constructed of multi-strand metal wire cable, affording a relatively smooth surface that will not pinch or otherwise entangle with the fabric of the mop. Further, the cable has suicient rigidity to maintain its shape in use while carrying a mop and yet has adequate tiexibility to satisfy the requirements of being released and reconnected virtually foreover without suiering from fatigue. The plugs 54 and 54PL are axially bored at E@ and ends of the cable are respectively inserted into these bores and brazed, soldered, etc. intol place. Each plug is chamfered at 62 to facilitate its release from and insertion into its socket or member 20, which is a function attributable here to only the released plug 54 but bccause of symmetry and likeness in manufacture the chamfer appears on both plugs as shown. Because the cable is stressed when in loop form anud when the plugs are retained, depression of the latch plate and pin will be followed by virtually automatic separation of the one plug 54n because of the energy stored in the stressed cable.

Various objects and features of the invention not specifically enumerated herein will undoubtedly occur to those conversant with the field to which this invention relates and itis expected that these objects and features may be achieved and certain modifications in the preferred form of the invention herein disclosed may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A mop holder of the character described, comprising: an elongated horizontal central tubular member having an upright terminal end and upper and lower wall portions having vertically alined apertures adjacent to said terminal end; a pair of cylindrical tubular, symmetrically arranged horizontal side members, one fixed to each side of the central member and projecting at an acute angle thereto to a terminal and beyond the terminal end of the central member, each side mem-ber having an upright slot therein in its wall portion proximate to the central member, said slots being in substantial transverse alinement with each other and with the terminal end of the central member; a mop-supporting loop having opposite ends, each end having thereon a cylindrical plug receivable in the respective side member and each plug having an annular groove therein alineable with the respective side member slot; an upright latch plate disposed across the terminal end of the central member and having opposite, transversely extending wing portions angled to the latch plate to lie respectively normal to the side members and respectively entering the side member slots and associated plug grooves; an upright pin carried in the central member apertures and aixed to the latch plate for mounting the latch plate for vertical movement between locking and releasing positions; at least one of said wing portions having a relieved part effective to clear its associated plug groove when the latch plate is moved to releasing position; and biasing means acting between the central member and the pin for holding the plate in locking position.

2. The invention defined in claim l, in which: the central portion of the latch plate has a loop thereon entering the terminal end of the central member and embracing the pin between the upper and lower wall portions of said central member, said loop being of such lesser vertical dimension that the vertical distance between said upper and lower wall portions of the central member as to accommodate movement of the latch plate to its aforesaid positions, and upper and lower portions of said loop being respectively engageable with said central member upper and lower wall portions to afford a pair of stops for limiting vertical movement of the latch plate.

3. The invention defined in claim l, in which: the central portion of the latch plate bears flatwise against the terminal end of the central member to furnish said plate with a bearing support in addition to that afforded by the mounting of the pin in said apertures.

4. A mop holder of the character described, comprising: an elongated horizontal central member having an upright terminal end and further including an upright aperture therethrough adjacent to said terminal end; a pair of tubular, symmetrically arranged horizontal side members, one xed to each side of the central member and projecting therefrom to a terminal end beyond the terminal end of the central member, each side member having an upright slot therein in its wall portion proximate to the central member, said slots being in substantial transverse alinement with each other and with the terminal end of the central memberya mop-supporting flammig loop having opposite ends, each end having thereon a plug receivable in the respective side member and each plug having an upright groove therein alineable with the respective side member slot; an upright latch plate disposed across the terminal end of the central member and having opposite, transversely extending wing portions respectively entering the side member slots and associated plug grooves; an upright pin carried in the central member aperture and aixed to the latch plate for mounting the latch plate for vertical movement between locking and releasing positions; at least one of said wing portions having a relieved part effective to clear its associated plug groove when the latch plate is moved to releasing position; and biasing means acting between the central member and the pin for holding the plate in locking position.

5. The invention defined in claim 4, in which: the central portion of the latch plate bears atwise against the terminal end of the central member to furnish said plate with a bearing support in addition to that afforded by the mounting of the pin in said aperture.

6. A mop holder of the character described, comprising an elongated horizontal central member having an upright terminal end; a pair of symmetrically arranged side members, one xed to each side of the central member and projecting to a terminal end beyond the terminal end of the central member, each side member having an upright slot therein in its wall portion proximate to the central member, said slots being in substantially transverse alinement with each other and with the terminal end of the central member; a mop-supporting member having opposite ends respectively including plugs receivable in the side members via the terminal ends of` said side members, each plug having an upright groove and said grooves being respectively alineable with the side member slots; an upright latch plate disposed across the terminal end of the central member and movable between locking and releasing positions, said latch plate having a pair of opposite, transversely extending wing portions respectively entering the side member slots and -associated plug grooves when the plate is in locking position, `at least one of said Wing por-tions being shaped to clear its assosiated plug groove when the plate is moved to its releasing position, and means biasing the plate to its locking position.

7. A mop holder of the character described, comprising: an elongated horizontal central tubular member having an upright terminal end and upper and lower wall portions having vertically alined apertures adjacent to `said terminal end; a pair of cylindrical tubular, symmetrically arranged horizontal side members, one xed to each side of the central member and projecting at an acute angle thereto to a terminal end beyond the terminal end of the central member, each side member having an upright slot therein in its wall portion proximate to the central member, said slots being in substantial transverse alinement with each other and with the terminal end of the central member; an upright latch plate disposed across the terminal end of the central mem'ber and having opposite, transversely extendingV wing portions angled to the latch plate to lie respectively normal to the side members and respectively entering the side member slots; an upright pin carried in the central member apertures and axed to the latch plate for mounting the latch plate for vertical movement between locking and releasing positions; at least one of said wing portions having a relieved part effective to clear the interior of its associated side member when the latch plate is moved to releasing position; and biasing means acting between the central member and the pin for holding the plate in locking position.

8. A mop holder of -the character described, comprising: an elongated horizontal central member having an upright terminal end and further including an upright aperture therethrough adjacent to said terminal end; a pair of tubular, symmetrically arranged horizontal side mmebers, one xed to each side of the central member and projecting therefrom to a terminal end beyond the terminal end of the central member, each side member having an upright slot therein in its Wall portion proximate to the central member, said slots being in substantial transverse alinement with each other and with the terminal end of the central member; an upright latch plate disposed across the terminal end of the central member and having opposite, transversely extending wing portions respectively entering the side member slots; an upright pin carried in the central member aperture and axed to the latch plate for mounting the latch plate for vertical movement between locking and releasing positions; at least one of said wing portions having a relieved part effective to clear the interior of its associated side member when the latch plate is moved to releasing position; and biasing means acting between the central member and the pin for holding the plate in locking position.

9. A mop holder of the character described, comprising an elongated horizontal central member having an upright terminal end; a pair of symmetrically arranged side members, one iixed to each side of the central member and projecting to a terminal end beyond the terminal end of the central member, each side member having an upright slot therein in its wall portion proximate to the central member, said slots being in substantially transverse valinement with each other and with the terminal end of the central member; an upright latch plate disposed across the terminal end Vof the central member and movable between locking and releasing positions, said latch plate having a pair of opposite, transversely extending wing portions respectively entering the side member slots and projecting into the interior of said side members when the plate is in locking position, at least one of said wing portions being shaped to clear its associated side member interior when the plate is moved to its releasing position; and means biasing the plate to its locking position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 844,130 Howard Feb. 12, 1907 1,149,429 Demjen Aug. 10, 1915 1,849,150 Ostdiek Mar. 15, 1932 1,886,338 Hirth pNov. 1, 1932 2,035,816 Lagaard Mar. 31, 1936 

